marvelous post kk and i really enjoyed the descriptions and pics! i use the tweezers, bamboo sticks, egg cartons, water jug, a lot of the stuff you use too! funny how the simplest of things become so handy in the gardens! the cow horn is just a real cow horn i found when we moved here. i used it like a bulb planter or dibble for planting garlic, etc... it makes a nice hole in the ground for bulbs and plants, too. the poor thing has been duct taped to death, the part i hold is falling apart. will try and take aa pics soon. we're getting a small break in the weather today and i have lots and lots to plant and mulch in the gardens....
These "extra" tools that you have and use really are good examples of making do, or adapting. I found this posting of yours very interesting to read. I can't recall Darwin's exact words...(survival of the fittest?), but it is not the strongest that survive, it is not even the most intelligent that survive--in my opinion they are those who have the ability to adapt.
I agree with you Frank--I enjoyed seeing KK's displays and explanations. I hope very much that others will contribute to this thread because I am so interested in seeing what tools people have, like and use. Tools are not just a "man-thing".
Thanks Bunkie, I too have a pair of cow horns and never thought that it can be used for anything ..... will see what it can be use for Yes Frank, it is really fascinating, never knew there were so much different kind of hand tools. Sojerd I fully agree with you and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed to see more posting here
These are the tools, along with a garden fork similar to the one in Sjoerd's 2nd photo, I used to create FRED - The Garden http://www.gardenstew.com/blog/e285-47- ... -high.html http://www.gardenstew.com/blog/index285 ... r2008.html My gardening tools ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I have a hoe and a shovel but in the black clay we have they really are useless. If it has rained the clay is to gloppy to work in and if it hasn't rained the soil is hard as concrete. I have to time my garden digging just right so the garden fork can break the soil into large clods and my trowel and I break it into smaller pieces. In creating the front garden I haven't even used the garden fork, except to dig some plants up out back for transplanting to the front. I don't know how much money I have spent on gardening gloves before I found these Mechanix Gloves. Randy uses them when working on our cars, I borrowed his one day and he had to buy me a lightweight pair before he could get his back. I know have three and a half pair, wore the finger tips off of one right glove. The large kneeling pad is wonderful, good size for sitting back instead of just on the knees. I started using plastic tubs for putting the dug up weeds in to be carried to the waste bag but they didn't last very long in our hot and dry weather. So one day I was wandering thru a thrift store and found a coal scuttle and it works great. Not too heavy when filled and easy to carry. I had four in use until the first one lost it's bottom to rust so it is now a planter out front. I do have a couple of types of sécateurs and a knife. I use rebar of varying lengths to hold up the headboards that have been turned into trellises and also a couple of metal arbors and couldn't be without sticks of all sorts and zip ties to hold floppy plants upright. I have been able to collect two of all my tools so I can keep one set out back and one out front.
Thanks so much for your tool posting, Toni. I have knee pads as well as some things that I can strap onto my lehs at the knees. They are softy rubber and are usually used by people that lay bricks for the streets and driveways. The coal scuttle seems an ideal container for weeds and such. Sory to hear that one of the bottoms rusted-out...but recycling it to use as a planter is a supurb idea.
that reminds me! i couldn't be without my Tubtrugs! just found them this year and love love love them!
Toni is that bucket like thing a coal scutter? I have never seen anything like it before until now. It must be very handy too to spread compost around a plant. Kneeling pad?? Never seen one here before or maybe I am blind to it I normally just drop my butt and just sit anywhere like around my mini farm as long as it did not rain before. :-D
Yep, KK, that's a coal scuttle...or most likely not an old one but a replica made for decorative purposes but it really suits my purpose. I do use it for carrying compost and soil to plants. And also when I am dividing up Iris, Lily or Canna I put them in that to carry to their new planting place. I can also fill it with water from the rain barrel for watering plants that aren't quite in range of the sprinkler. Our soil is usually so hard and clumpy that there is no way I can sit or kneel without a pad to soften the surface while I am planting or weeding....getting old don't you know
I do not have any fancy old tools as most of you .Like Sjoerd said I'm a make doer with what I've got.I have a shovel,a short handled shovel,a leaf rake,a garden rake,a hoe,a small little rake for digging ,a little trowel,I have sissors and spoons also water cans where sprinklers want reach.I love looking at Sjoerds and everyones tools.
Oh my goodness! I'm definately not showing my so-called tools. This really is a fascinating topic and I suddenly realized I need to make a very long, very detailed wish list for Christmas. I'm very impressed with all tools shown.
Awwwww c'mon Droopy-- you must have some interestion tools there somewhere. Norwegian tools. Or perhaps your man has some stashed-away somewhere. I would really be interested to see some...even ONE. hahaha. Good luck on the loooong wish list for christmas.
